New Hudson (company)


The New Hudson company was originally started in 1890 by George Patterson, the original idea of the company was to build bicycles. By 1903 the Birmingham factory was producing motorized bicycles using Minerva engines. By 1909, their first motorcycles produced were using JAP engines. By 1920 they were seeing success in racing at the Isle of man TT and Brooklands. In 1927, Bert Le Vack took over racing development and was the first rider to complete a lap at over 100 mph on a 500cc machine at Brooklands. They began to manufacture their own Single valve and OHV single cylinder engines and produced a 212cc two stroke motorcycles using a Levis engine. Times became tough for Patterson after 1 of his sons died in WW1 and the other had lost a leg. The family sold the factory to HJ Bructon after WW1. New Hudson also produced 3 wheelers using MAG engines.
New Hudson was taken over by BSA cycles in the late 1920s and by 1933 had ceased all production of motorcycles. In 1929 the company purchased the Girling brake patent from the inventor Albert Girling, to supply brake systems to Ford, Austin, Rover and Riley.
The factory continued to produce Girling brakes and suspension components. In 1940 the New Hudson autocycle was produced but later rebadged as a BSA.
In 1943 New Hudson was purchased by Joseph Lucas Limited and combined with Lucas's Bendix Brake interests, which Lucas had acquired in 1931, and Luvax Shock Absorber to form Girling Limited.

Automobiles

Bicycles

New Hudson bicycles were produced in Birmingham, initially at the St George's Works, and latterly at BSA's Waverley Works. By the 1950s, New Hudson bicycles were simply badge engineered versions of the BSA bicycle range. In 1957, when BSA was taken over by Raleigh Industries, New Hudson bicycles were too and remained in production - this time as re-badged Raleigh bicycles - until at least 1976.